Yet here Prince Edward stands, King Henry's son.
Look
therefore, Lewis, that by this
league and marriage
Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour;
For though usurpers sway the rule a while
Yet heav'ns are just, and time suppresseth wrongs.
WARWICK. Injurious Margaret!
PRINCE OF WALES. And why not Queen?
WARWICK. Because thy father Henry did usurp;
And thou no more art
prince than she is queen.
OXFORD. Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt,
Which did
subdue the greatest part of Spain;
And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth,
Whose
wisdom was a mirror to the wisest;
And, after that wise
prince, Henry the Fifth,
Who by his
prowess conquered all France.
From these our Henry lineally descends.
WARWICK. Oxford, how haps it in this smooth discourse
You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost
All that which Henry the Fifth had gotten?
Methinks these peers of France should smile at that.
But for the rest: you tell a pedigree
Of
threescore and two years- a silly time
To make prescription for a kingdom's worth.
OXFORD. Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege,
Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years,
And not
betray thy
treason with a blush?
WARWICK. Can Oxford that did ever fence the right
Now buckler
falsehood with a pedigree?
For shame! Leave Henry, and call Edward king.
OXFORD. Call him my king by whose
injurious doom
My elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere,
Was done to death; and more than so, my father,
Even in the
downfall of his mellow'd years,
When nature brought him to the door of death?
No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm,
This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.
WARWICK. And I the house of York.
LEWIS. Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford,
Vouchsafe at our request to stand aside
While I use further
conference with Warwick.
[They stand aloof]
QUEEN MARGARET. Heavens grant that Warwick's words
bewitch him not!
LEWIS. Now, Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience,
Is Edward your true king? for I were loath
To link with him that were not
lawful chosen.
WARWICK. Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour.
LEWIS. But is he
gracious in the people's eye?
WARWICK. The more that Henry was unfortunate.
LEWIS. Then further: all dissembling set aside,
Tell me for truth the
measure of his love
Unto our sister Bona.
WARWICK. Such it seems
As may beseem a
monarch like himself.
Myself have often heard him say and swear
That this his love was an
eternal plant
Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground,
The leaves and fruit
maintain'd with beauty's sun,
Exempt from envy, but not from disdain,
Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain.
LEWIS. Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve.
BONA. Your grant or your
denial shall be mine.
[To WARWICK] Yet I
confess that often ere this day,
When I have heard your king's desert recounted,
Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire.
LEWIS. Then, Warwick, thus: our sister shall be Edward's.
And now
forthwith shall articles be drawn
Touching the jointure that your king must make,
Which with her dowry shall be counterpois'd.
Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness
That Bona shall be wife to the English king.
PRINCE OF WALES. To Edward, but not to the English king.
QUEEN MARGARET. Deceitful Warwick, it was thy device
By this
alliance to make void my suit.
Before thy coming, Lewis was Henry's friend.
LEWIS. And still is friend to him and Margaret.
But if your title to the crown be weak,
As may appear by Edward's good success,
Then 'tis but reason that I be releas'd
From giving aid which late I promised.
Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand
That your
estate requires and mine can yield.
WARWICK. Henry now lives in Scotland at his case,
Where having nothing, nothing can he lose.
And as for you yourself, our quondam queen,
You have a father able to
maintain you,
And better 'twere you troubled him than France.
QUEEN MARGARET. Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick,
Proud setter up and puller down of kings!
I will not hence till with my talk and tears,
Both full of truth, I make King Lewis behold
Thy sly
conveyance and thy lord's false love;
For both of you are birds of self-same feather.
[POST blowing a horn within]
LEWIS. Warwick, this is some post to us or thee.
Enter the POST
POST. My lord
ambassador, these letters are for you,
Sent from your brother, Marquis Montague.
These from our King unto your Majesty.
And, madam, these for you; from whom I know not.
[They all read their letters]
OXFORD. I like it well that our fair Queen and mistress
Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his.
PRINCE OF WALES. Nay, mark how Lewis stamps as he were nettled.
I hope all's for the best.
LEWIS. Warwick, what are thy news? And yours, fair Queen?
QUEEN MARGARET. Mine such as fill my heart with unhop'd joys.
WARWICK. Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent.
LEWIS. What, has your king married the Lady Grey?
And now, to
soothe your forgery and his,
Sends me a paper to
persuade me patience?
Is this th'
alliance that he seeks with France?
Dare he
presume to scorn us in this manner?
QUEEN MARGARET. I told your Majesty as much before.
This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty.
WARWICK. King Lewis, I here protest in sight of heaven,
And by the hope I have of
heavenly bliss,
That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's-
No more my king, for he dishonours me,
But most himself, if he could see his shame.
Did I forget that by the house of York
My father came
untimely to his death?
Did I let pass th' abuse done to my niece?
Did I impale him with the regal crown?
Did I put Henry from his native right?
And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame?
Shame on himself! for my desert is honour;
And to
repair my honour lost for him
I here
renounce him and return to Henry.
My noble Queen, let former grudges pass,
And
henceforth I am thy true servitor.
I will
revenge his wrong to Lady Bona,
And replant Henry in his former state.
QUEEN MARGARET. Warwick, these words have turn'd my hate to love;
And I
forgive and quite forget old faults,
And joy that thou becom'st King Henry's friend.
WARWICK. So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned friend,
That if King Lewis
vouchsafe to furnish us
With some few bands of chosen soldiers,
I'll
undertake to land them on our coast
And force the
tyrant from his seat by war.
'Tis not his new-made bride shall succour him;
And as for Clarence, as my letters tell me,
He's very likely now to fall from him
For matching more for
wanton lust than honour
Or than for strength and safety of our country.
BONA. Dear brother, how shall Bona be reveng'd
But by thy help to this distressed queen?
QUEEN MARGARET. Renowned Prince, how shall poor Henry live
Unless thou
rescue him from foul despair?
BONA. My quarrel and this English queen's are one.
WARWICK. And mine, fair Lady Bona, joins with yours.
LEWIS. And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret's.
Therefore, at last, I
firmly am resolv'd
You shall have aid.
QUEEN MARGARET. Let me give
humble thanks for all at once.
LEWIS. Then, England's
messenger, return in post
And tell false Edward, thy
supposed king,
That Lewis of France is sending over masquers
To revel it with him and his new bride.
Thou seest what's past; go fear thy king withal.
BONA. Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,
I'll wear the willow-garland for his sake.
QUEEN MARGARET. Tell him my
mourning weeds are laid aside,
And I am ready to put
armour on.
WARWICK. Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,
And
therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.
There's thy
reward; be gone. Exit POST
LEWIS. But, Warwick,
Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men,
Shall cross the seas and bid false Edward battle:
And, as occasion serves, this noble Queen
And Prince shall follow with a fresh supply.
Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt:
What
pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?
WARWICK. This shall assure my
constant loyalty:
That if our Queen and this young Prince agree,
I'll join mine
eldest daughter and my joy
To him
forthwith in holy wedlock bands.
QUEEN MARGARET. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.
Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,
Therefore delay not- give thy hand to Warwick;
And with thy hand thy faith irrevocable
That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine.
PRINCE OF WALES. Yes, I accept her, for she well deserves it;
And here, to
pledge my vow, I give my hand.
[He gives his hand to WARWICK]
LEWIS. stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied;
And thou, Lord Bourbon, our High Admiral,
Shall waft them over with our royal fleet.
I long till Edward fall by war's mischance
For mocking marriage with a dame of France.
Exeunt all but WARWICK
WARWICK. I came from Edward as
ambassador,
But I return his sworn and
mortal foe.
Matter of marriage was the
charge he gave me,
But
dreadful war shall answer his demand.
Had he none else to make a stale but me?
Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow.
I was the chief that rais'd him to the crown,
And I'll be chief to bring him down again;
Not that I pity Henry's
misery,